Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 3 Comments

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This cheese sauce for cauliflower is a quick and easy condiment that transforms vegetables into an irresistible side dish! Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are combined with whole milk, butter, and seasoning for a delightfully rich and creamy texture. Plus, it's the perfect way to convince picky eaters to try their veggies!

Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Recipe

If you're looking for a way to get your picky eaters to actually enjoy their veggies, my homemade cheese sauce for cauliflower is the one for you! It's rich and flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and the creamy cheese texture will have everyone wanting seconds!

This super easy sauce will definitely take all of your favorite vegetable side dishes to the next level! All you have to do is mix a handful of common ingredients in a saucepan and cook on low heat until the cheese melts.

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (1)
Jump to:
  • Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Recipe
  • 🥘 Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower
  • ❓ FAQ
  • 😋 More Tasty Sauce Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

🥘 Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower Ingredients

This ingredient list is full of common items that you may already have in your refrigerator and pantry! Always make sure to use grated cheese over cubed cheese for the best results.

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (2)
  • Butter - 2tablespoons ofbutter.
  • All-Purpose Flour - 2tablespoons ofall-purpose flour.
  • Whole Milk - 1cup of whole milk.
  • Cheddar Cheese - 1 ¼cup ofcheddar cheese(grated).
  • Parmesan Cheese - ½cupof Parmesan cheese(grated).
  • Onion Powder - ¼teaspoon ofonion powder.
  • Salt & Pepper - each, salt & pepper(optional, to taste).

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Cheese sauce for cauliflower is incredibly easy and quick to prepare! To begin, take out a medium-sized saucepan, a silicone whisk, and some measuring spoons.

This homemade cheese sauce recipe yields around 8 servings! There is more than enough for dinner, plus you might even have some left over to enjoy for lunch the next day!

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (3)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (4)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (5)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (6)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (7)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (8)
  1. Melt butter. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat on your stovetop.
  2. Mix. Pour in the 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour then use a silicone whisk and mix to create a roux. *The roux should start to become thick.
  3. Add milk. Add the 1 cup of milk in small increments at a time and continue mixing until all of the milk is in the mixture. Whisk until it reaches a smooth consistency and there are no longer any clumps present.
  4. Add ingredients. Reduce the heat to low then add in the 1 ¼ cups of cheddar cheese, ½cup of Parmesan cheese, and ¼teaspoon of onion powder.
  5. Stir mixture. Stir the mixture until the cheese is completely melted, then remove your saucepan from the heat. Mix in the optional salt & pepper to taste, if using.
  6. Serve. Immediately serve over your prepared cauliflower.

Cheese sauce for cauliflower tastes amazing on my microwave cauliflower! I like to also pour it over baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, air fryer asparagus, or on top of some nachos. Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

  • This recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
  • If you'd like to add some heat to this sauce, you can add in some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • You can substitute the cheddar cheese for any of your favorite white cheeses if you desire. Make sure that the cheese is grated (not cubed) so that it will melt quickly.
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (9)

🥡 Storing & Reheating

To store your leftover cheese sauce, pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the fridge for up to 7 days. Allow the sauce to completely cool before you put it into the refrigerator.

You can either store your cheese sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag (with no excess air) in the freezer for up to 6 months. For the best flavor and texture results, enjoy within the first 2 to 3 months.

Thaw your frozen cheese sauce overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Reheat the cheese sauce in a saucepan over low heat until it is heated through to your liking. If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ FAQ

Why Is My Cheese Sauce Not Creamy?

If this is happening, it's most likely because you have the heat turned up too high. Cheese sauce should never be rushed and needs to be cooked on low heat. If the heat is too hot, you can run into the sauce splitting and having a grainy texture.

Can I Use Other Cheeses For This Cheese Sauce Recipe?

Absolutely! There are many other choices that would taste delicious too. Gruyere, fontina, and Havarti cheese all melt very well, or you can try a flavored cheddar cheese like habanero or garlic herb! In place of the Parmesan cheese, you could use Asiago or Romano!

Why Does My Cheese Sauce Taste Like Flour?

Your sauce tastes like flour because the roux didn't cook long enough before adding in the milk. Next time, try cooking the butter and flour mixture until it starts turning a golden color, then start adding in the milk.

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (10)

😋 More Tasty Sauce Recipes

  • Blue Cheese Steak Sauce - This sauce is full of rich and bold flavors that will complement your favorite cut of steak!
  • Big Mac Sauce - My homemade Big Mac sauce is a tried and true recipe that is perfect for burgers, fries, and salads!
  • Mild Buffalo Sauce - If you love mild wings, then you'll love how easy and delicious this recipe is!
  • Burger Sauce - Take your burgers to the next level with this sauce that is made with mayo, mustard, ketchup, sweet pickles, and seasonings!
  • - This sauce has the perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors that will pair well with tempura-fried chicken, pork, or shrimp!
  • Cajun Dipping Sauce - My homemade Cajun sauce has a flavorful kick from a dash of hot sauce and Cajun seasonings!

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📖 Recipe Card

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (11)

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4.92 from 25 reviews

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

This cheese sauce for cauliflower is a quick and easy condiment that transforms vegetables into an irresistible side dish! Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are combined with whole milk, butter, and seasoning for a delightfully rich and creamy texture. Plus, it's the perfect way to convince picky eaters to try their veggies!

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 146kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 ¼ cup cheddar cheese (grated)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (optional, to taste)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat on your stovetop.

  • Pour in the all-purpose flour then use a silicone whisk and mix to create a roux. *The roux should start to become thick.

  • Add the milk in small increments at a time and continue mixing until all of the milk is in the mixture. Whisk until it reaches a smooth consistency and there are no longer any clumps present.

  • Reduce the heat to low then add in the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and onion powder.

  • Stir the mixture until the cheese is completely melted, then remove your saucepan from the heat. Mix in the optional salt & pepper to taste, if using.

  • Immediately serve over your prepared cauliflower.

Notes

  • This recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
  • If you'd like to add some heat to this sauce, you can add in some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • You can substitute the cheddar cheese for any of your favorite white cheeses if you desire. Make sure that the cheese is grated (not cubed) so that it will melt quickly.
  • To store: To store your leftover cheese sauce, pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the fridge for up to 7 days. Allow the sauce to completely cool before you put it into the container.
  • To freeze: You can either store your cheese sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag (with no excess air) in the freezer for up to 6 months. For the best flavor and texture results, enjoy within the first 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
  • To reheat: Reheat the cheese sauce in a saucepan over low heat until it is heated through to your liking. If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg (11%) | Sodium: 248mg (11%) | Potassium: 67mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 363IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 237mg (24%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Best Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower, Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower, cheesy sauce, easy cheese sauce

Course Condiments, Sauces

Cuisine American

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (12)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Jackie says

    Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (17)
    My sauce was not grainy, it had a cheesy flavor. But it was too thick. I followed the recipe exactly.

    Reply

    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      Drizzle a small amount of milk or cream in and stir or whisk to combine. Adjust to your preferences as needed. Thanks!

      Reply

  2. Sue Armbruster says

    Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (18)
    This was terrific. I'll never buy a can of cheddar soup again.

    Reply

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is cauliflower sauce made of? ›

INGREDIENTS. All you need for this cauliflower sauce is a head of cauliflower, some vegetable stock, and a bit of salt. That's it!

How to stop cauliflower cheese from going watery? ›

Drain well

Make sure you drain the cauliflower really well after it's boiled up and before you add it to the dish, otherwise it will end up too watery.

What enhances cheese sauce? ›

The more cheese and milk added, the looser the sauce and also the drop in flavour. Sometimes a late addition of more cheese can balance things out. A bit of freshly ground pepper and nutmeg helps out, you get an extra warmth. My son discovered that adding a little wine to the cheese sauce really ups the flavor.

What is cheese sauce made of? ›

Classic cheese sauce begins with béchamel — a simple white sauce made of butter, flour, milk, and a few seasonings. Cheese is then added to the white sauce to create cheese sauce (called a Mornay sauce in French cuisine).

Why does my cauliflower cheese sauce go watery? ›

She said: "Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if it's in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery."

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

What does soaking cauliflower in milk do? ›

You can keep cauliflower's white color and enhance its sweetness by adding 1 cup of milk when cooking it. Add a cup of milk to the cooking water and bring it to a boil. Add the cauliflower pieces and allow the water to return to a boil; gently boil for 3 to 5 minutes.

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? ›

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? Boiling the cauliflower before roasting it whole ensures that the final dish is tender all the way through. Since a whole cauliflower has less surface area than cut florets, adding sel gris to the water means that the cauliflower gets seasoned from the inside out.

Why can't you reheat cauliflower cheese? ›

Can you reheat cauliflower cheese? Yes you can, and it will taste fine… But just be aware that it will dry out a little and the cauliflower will be a little bit softer… not a deal breaker, but definitely not as good as fresh! Simply place any leftover cauliflower in a lidded container and refrigerate.

Why does cauliflower cheese sauce split? ›

Cook your cauliflower cheese at the right temperature, otherwise your cheese sauce can split. If your cheese sauce splits before that, it can be down to leaving it out too long, or you've boiled the sauce. If this happens, add a splash of milk or cream and whisk vigorously and it should come back to life.

What goes well with cauliflower cheese? ›

Cauliflower is blanched for a few minutes, before being baked in the oven smothered in cheese sauce. So gooood. What is this? It pairs really well with salty meats, especially roast ham, gammon steaks and bacon.

How do you keep cheese sauce creamy? ›

Remove the saucepan from heat and slowly incorporate the cheese, whisking constantly. According to AlSawwaf, adding the cheese over heat can cause the fats and milk solids to separate, resulting in a lumpy sauce with a curdled texture — so always take the pan off the burner first.

How to give cheese sauce more flavour? ›

  1. Sub whole milk for at least part of the cream. Cream is heavy and mutes the flavor of cheese.
  2. Add a dash of garlic powder, dry mustard, and smoked paprika to the roux while it cooks. ...
  3. Temper a couple egg yolks and integrate into the sauce before you add cheese. ...
  4. Good cheese, and multiple cheeses!
Jul 4, 2017

How to add flavour to cheese sauce? ›

A little mustard seems to accent the cheese flavor of a sauce. Nutritional yeast also has a vaguely nacho cheese-ish flavor. As an update, I cooked cheddar cheese with cooking cream, making it thicken, and the cheese flavour was very strong! You should try!

What is the flavor profile of cauliflower? ›

Its delicate, slightly nutty flavor pairs seamlessly with a variety of cuisines, while its crunchy texture transforms to velvety smooth when cooked.

What is the white curd of cauliflower? ›

An annual plant that reproduces by seed, the cauliflower head is composed of a (generally) white inflorescence meristem. Cauliflower heads resemble those in broccoli, which differs in having flower buds as the edible portion. Typically, only the head is eaten; the edible white flesh is sometimes called "curd".

Can you eat cauliflower cheese as a main meal? ›

Rustle up one of the greatest comfort foods: cauliflower cheese. It makes a perfect side dish or vegetarian main meal.

How many carbs are in cauliflower and cheese sauce? ›

Cauliflower, with cheese sauce (0.5 cup) contains 6.1g total carbs, 4.2g net carbs, 7.6g fat, 5.3g protein, and 110 calories.

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